Melbourne players and greats agreed that Tomas Bugg probably won’t use Instagram before a game again in a bid to irritate opposition players.

The Demons forward uploaded a photo of himself and team-mate Jack Watts before Sunday’s clash between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs and added a caption that read: “You ready @jasonjohannisen?”

Bugg was referring to the dashing Bulldogs half-back, who came in for plenty of physical attention in his side’s heavy defeat to Sydney earlier this month, and had an uncharacteristically quiet game.

That was repeated on this occasion, too, as Johannisen – winner of the Norm Smith Medal last year – had little impact in the Bulldogs’ 57-point loss at Etihad Stadium.

Bugg’s post has generated plenty of discussion in the football world, with Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge describing it as “surprising” while Melbourne assistant coach Jade Rawlings added he did not “condone that sort of stuff”.

“I didn’t know until after the game,” Melbourne’s Jayden Hunt told radio station RSN927 on Monday.

“He probably won’t be doing that again.”

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon agreed.

“He won’t be doing that again,” Lyon said on SEN.

“For me, when I read it … I said ‘oh, I don’t like that’.

“As a Melbourne supporter, I thought ‘Johannisen is going to get 35 touches’.”

Melbourne midfielder Dom Tyson said he “didn’t mind” Bugg’s post but was unsure if it was a good look.

“He’s [Bugg] a confident and cheeky type of guy … I personally didn’t mind it too much,” he told SEN.